Lindsey D.'s ramblings on the moving image!

What I’d Be Watching: #TCMFF 2017

Another year, another TCM Film Festival I’m sadly missing. As a recent graduate in the middle of a horrendous job hunt, I couldn’t justify digging into my savings for flight, hotel, and all that jazz. Cross-country trips are pricey, especially with a huge event like a film festival included!

But, as a TCM devotee with plenty of blogger friends attending the festival, I can still celebrate it from afar. A girl can dream, and dream I will, until I (hopefully) become gainfully employed and can tear myself away from the Great Lakes State for a future festival.

So, all of the action kicks off tomorrow. Here’s what I would have liked to see and do, had I been able to attend the festival this year. (Keep in mind, I’ve made no consideration for line times/cut-offs or travel between venues since I’ve never been to the festival and am wholly unfamiliar with those roadblocks.)

Thursday, April 6

The “Remembering Robert” event at 12:30 pm at Chinese Multiplex House 1 would be a must. I always wished I could meet Robert at the festival. I still can’t quite believe he’s gone. I’m sure this will be a beautiful tribute to TCM’s beloved host.

As for the movies, the festival kicks off with a bang — lots of good stuff playing on Day 1! Dawson City: Frozen Time at 6:15 pm at Chinese Multiplex House 6 should be one of the most fascinating events of the festival — a documentary about a collection of films discovered in a Yukon Territory swimming pool! It would be a tough choice between this and Love Crazy (6 pm, Egyptian Theater). I’m a sucker for all things William Powell/Myrna Loy.

Later in the evening, I’d go for The Man Who Knew Too Much (9:30 pm, Egyptian Theater). I’ve seen the 1956 version once on the big screen, at my beloved Redford Theater. It’s about time I see the ’34 version on the big screen, too!

Friday, April 7

The early bird gets the worm, as they say, so I’d start the day with one of the earliest screenings, Rafter Romance (9 am, Egyptian Theater). This is one of my favorite Ginger Rogers films — very cute, very charming.

I’d stay at the Egyptian for One Hour With You at 11:30 am. Quite honestly, I’ve never heard of this film but anything starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald is okay by me! I adored them in Love Me Tonight.

I’m always on a quest to watch more world cinema, so the French thriller Panique (1:45 pm, Chinese Multiplex House 6) would be a great mid-day choice.

Broadcast News, at 5:15 pm at Chinese Multiplex House 1, would be a can’t-miss for me. It became an instant favorite the first time I watched it. I haven’t seen it in a couple years and have never seen it on the big screen.

Laura is a film I’ve seen many times before, but it’s showing at 9:30 pm back at the Egyptian — on nitrate!

I’ve heard a lot about how much fun the midnight screenings at TCMFF are, so I would also love to attend Zardoz (12 am, Chinese Multiplex House 1). I’m a sucker for a cult film, and the TCMFF website says this one is “both a brilliant visionary work and one of the silliest films ever made.”

Saturday, April 8

After a packed Friday I’d probably be feeling pretty sleepy, but rest is for the weak. I’d be up and at ’em to see my love, Cary Grant, in Arsenic and Old Lace at Chinese Multiplex House 4 at 9 am. The laughter would give me the burst of energy needed to power through the rest of the day on minimal food and sleep.

Would you believe I’ve never seen The Last Picture Show? TCMFF would have been a good chance to remedy that. It screens at 12:15 pm at Chinese Multiplex House 1.

I’d take a little break after The Last Picture Show, skipping the early afternoon roster in the interest of catching Hollywood Home Movies at 5 pm at Club TCM.

Theodora Goes Wild is a wonderful comedy I’d love to see on the big screen. It plays at the Egyptian at 6:30 pm.

Black Narcissus on nitrate seems like it’ll be packed, so I’d opt for an old favorite, Preston Struges’ Unfaithfully Yours (9:30 pm, Chinese Multiplex House 4). I found it brilliant when I watched it on my tiny laptop screen for the first time in this blog’s infancy, so I can only imagine how much more I’d enjoy it in a theater.

Sunday, April 9

The final day of the festival, but no less busy! Since I haven’t included much special programming into my dream schedule up to this point, I’d spend part of the morning at the memorabilia exhibit (10 am, Roosevelt Hotel) before skipping out for Lured (a fantastic crime thriller starring Lucille Ball!), at Chinese Multiplex House 6 at 10 am.

As anyone who visits this blog regularly will know, I’m big on forgotten/lesser-known flicks so the Republic Preserved presentation (2:15 pm, Chinese Multiplex House 6) would be a must-see. Glad to see the festival giving some screen time to a “Poverty Row” studio. And, as a certified library scientist, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see a presentation by Paramount’s head archivist!

William Wyler is one of my favorite directors, and his 1951 film Detective Story screens at 4:30, once again at Chinese Multiplex House 6, which would be my home for most of Sunday.

The options for the final screening are Casablanca, Lady in the Dark, and Speedy. As much as I love Casablanca, I’ve seen it in theaters a couple of times, so instead I’d go for Speedy. I love seeing silent films with live accompaniment, and what better way to end the weekend than with Harold Lloyd?

NOTE: I must give a shout-out to Kate Gabrielle of Silents and Talkies for putting together a wonderful printable schedule, which I referenced for this post. If you’re going to the festival and want to keep a copy on hand, check it out at Kate’s blog!

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2 thoughts on “What I’d Be Watching: #TCMFF 2017”

A cool lineup of films: Love Crazy, the original Man Who Knew Too Much, Unfaithfully Yours…a great way to spend a few days in Hollywood! And I’ve been to the Egyptian, for a film noir festival a few years ago…a neat place to see an old movie.

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